The Benefits of Hibernation

Hermanns tortoises like most of the Mediterranean group
are biologically programmed for
an annual hibernation period. It ensures that
tortoises are not eating for 365 days a year
and so encourages slow natural
growth. To artificially keep a tortoise awake all year would
increase the food
intake to at least double the safe amount, this would lead to abnormal
growth
and cause metabolic bone disease, leading to lumpy shells. It would also put
immense
strain on the renal system as utrate production would be over increased,
this leading to kidney or
bladder stones and eventual death.
Therefore, if you want healthy Hermanns tortoises make sure you
hibernate them and hibernate
them correctly!
For most new and inexperience tortoise keepers the thought of
hibernation instils a complete
panic, brought on by a fear of accidentally
killing their pet tortoise. However, times have moved on and we now have the
knowledge to safely guide our tortoises through a much needed
hibernation.
The plusses of hibernating far out way the minuses of not doing so.